Bryan

In the 1970s, Bryan, Texas, built a new power plant to help provide additional energy for the Brazos Valley. The natural gas-powered generators needed a cooling reservoir, so the city created Lake Bryan in 1974. The man-made lake is now a recreation hotspot in the Bryan-College Station area, featuring boating, fishing and mountain bike riding, among other activities. The neighborhoods that have popped up near the water offer easy access to the lake and its amenities, as well as a quieter feel than the more dense city of Bryan, while still having an easy drive to anything downtown. The namesake of the neighborhood, as well as its main attraction, Lake Bryan is an 829-acre reservoir. People from across Aggieland escape to the lake, with boaters taking a day on the water while others cast a line to fish for largemouth bass. The lake also serves as the home of Texas A&M’s club crew team. Meanwhile, campers can set up to sleep under the stars at any one of the 24 campsites or 13 RV sites. Around the water, trails play host to mountain biking and hiking. Visitors to Lake Bryan pay a $5 daily entry fee or can buy a $75 annual pass. “The park is quite popular during the weekends, but the usage leans more towards the lake usage, with boaters, fishing, and swimmers,” says James Munnerlyn, an officer of the Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association, which helps maintain the trails at Lake Bryan. “Some people do get out and hike or run the trails.” Lake Bryan hosts many outdoor gatherings, from rowing competitions to trail bike races. One of the biggest events is the annual Tri Aggieland, held each spring with participants from the Texas A&M Triathlon Club and the surrounding community. The Brazos Valley Mountain Bike Association has put on biking events in the past and currently hosts weekly rides and time trials around the lake. One of Lake Bryan's main draws, the Cadillac Ranch Bar & Grill sits just inside the park entrance. Diners can take in a sunset over the water while eating dinner or dance to a live band on the outdoor stage after dark. “The restaurant has changed many times, but it is really nice to have something on-premises to go socialize with friends, have a meal and a beverage or two,” Munnerlyn says. Closer to the residential portion of the neighborhood, Top of the Hill Burgers is a Bryan-area staple, with its low prices and greasy beef patties. Next door, the Benchley Country Store & Grill’s kitchen serves favorites like nachos to accompany its homey market. An H-E-B is just over 8 miles away, close to downtown Bryan. While some newer single-family home developments have popped up over the past 20 years, manufactured homes reside within most of the branching neighborhood streets north of the lake. These mobile homes rarely see the market but can vary in price when they do, from nearly $50,000 up to $200,000, depending on lot size. South of Lake Bryan, the ranch or new traditional houses lining Conquistador Circle and Rye School Road generally sell in the $300,000s. Located in the Bryan Independent School District, Lake Bryan sends its kids to Kemp-Carver Elementary School for kindergarten through fourth grade, with the school receiving a C grade from Niche. Students then attend the newly-opened Sadberry Intermediate School for fifth and sixth grade before heading to B-minus-rated Davila Middle School and C-plus-rated Rudder High School, where they can participate in the Advanced Placement Capstone program. The A-rated Bryan Collegiate High School admits students via application, allowing students at risk of not finishing their secondary education to simultaneously obtain a high school diploma and a two-year college degree. Seven miles west of downtown Bryan, Lake Bryan allows some seclusion from the city while still being an easy drive from employers and businesses. One of the area’s largest employers, Texas A&M University, is just over 10 miles from the neighborhood in nearby College Station.

Among neighborhoods near downtown Bryan, Texas, Milam-Jones stands out for younger homebuyers thanks to its home prices. “There are some older homes in the neighborhood, but it’s a good first-time homebuyer neighborhood,” says Anthony Gutierrez, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Brazos Valley who has worked in the area for seven years. “The housing in that area is still pretty affordable, as far as what we see versus the average price point.” But the neighborhood is more than just cheap homes, with proximity to downtown Bryan’s attractions, as well as the city’s biggest park. The various subdivisions within Milam-Jones feature different styles of homes, with the most prominent being ranch-style and one-story homes. These can go between $100,000 to around $200,000, while manufactured homes sell from $50,000 to the mid-$100,000s. Bryan recently restricted the building of new manufactured homes within city limits, which has led to an uptick of individuals selling their land to developers to build single-family homes. “As the mobile homes deteriorate, they’re not allowed to build any new ones so those people are selling their lots to a builder who will build on it,” Gutierrez says. These new builds with brick exteriors and front-facing gables sell between $200,000 and $300,000. The largest park in Bryan, Henderson Park spreads out over 52 acres of the Milam-Jones neighborhood. Families picnic at the pavilions while kids scamper around the playgrounds. On the other side of the park, skaters can shred at the skate park, while locals cool off from the Texas heat at the public Henderson Harbor pool. Much of Milam-Jones has a residential character, but a smattering of businesses are set up in the neighborhood closer to downtown. Local favorite restaurant The Remnant of Nawlins serves Cajun comfort foods and was opened by owner Korey Thomas after Hurricane Katrina forced his family to move to Bryan from New Orleans. Meanwhile, Polite Coffee Roasters operates out of the historic “Kyle House,” a former residence built in 1898, offering handcrafted drinks as well as their own roasted coffee beans. An H-E-B is 2.5 miles away for groceries and other essentials. With downtown Bryan a short drive away, Milam-Jones residents have the city’s community-oriented events to take part in, the most prominent of which is the First Friday festival. Each month, families flock to the downtown Bryan event for live music, artist booths and food vendors. Milam-Jones is named after two schools: the neighborhood’s former elementary school, Milam Elementary — which closed in 2016 — and its current primary school, Jones Elementary. Jones received a B-minus rating from Niche, while Jane Long Intermediate teaches the community’s fifth and sixth-graders and also received a B-minus. Students then attend the B-minus-rated Stephen F. Austin Middle before they head to B-rated Bryan High, which offers the International Baccalaureate program. Those at risk of dropping out of high school or not completing a post-secondary degree can apply to Bryan Collegiate High School, an A-rated public school at which students earn an associate degree alongside their high school coursework. On the southwest side of Bryan, Milam-Jones is close to downtown businesses and routes to nearby College Station. Texas A&M, one of the largest employers in the area, is less than 5 miles away, making for an easy commute. Meanwhile, the Brazos Transit District bus system serves the area with hourly service from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., offering routes throughout Bryan and College Station.

Initially a residential addition to Bryan's downtown, the East Side Historical District claims many of the city’s oldest buildings. Homes in the neighborhood — placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 — date back to the 1870s. Whether they live in a historic home or something a bit more modern, residents enjoy how close they are to Bryan’s epicenter. Yet the neighborhood’s large lots and mature trees keep things quiet and peaceful. “It’s a really cool place,” says Realtor Colin Clark with Keller Williams Realty Brazos Valley, who moved to the area for college in 2012 and stayed after graduating. “The clients that I’ve sold properties to in this area really love it, and they love their neighbors. There’s a little bit of everything here.” Nearly 20 homes built between the 1870s and the mid-1920s contribute to the East Side Historical District’s venerable nature, many of them Victorians and Queen Annes. While these properties rarely hit the market, when they do, they sell from the $500,000s to nearly $1 million. Meanwhile, an eclectic mix of homes fills the rest of the neighborhood; most were built from the 1940s through the 1970s. Newly renovated ranch, Cape and Craftsman-style houses range between $200,000s and $500,000, while those needing some work go for between $100,000 and $300,000. Texas Avenue, one of Bryan’s primary commercial corridors, borders the East Side Historical District. It's lined with chain restaurants like Whataburger and Sonic Drive-In, as well as markets including El Paisano de Bryan, specializing in Mexican groceries. Residents can head across Texas Avenue into downtown to find more local businesses, like Longhorn Tavern Steakhouse — known for their chicken-fried steak — and Catalena Hatters, a family-owned cowboy hat shop. An H-E-B is about 2 miles away. The East Side Historical District has access to all downtown Bryan has to offer, including community events such as First Friday. Each month, the city closes streets downtown to traffic for live music and local vendors. “It’s very family-friendly, bring the kids,” Clark says. “There’s candy, there’s an old-timey soda shack and things like that. There’s a lot of cool stuff.” Served by the Bryan Independent School District, neighborhood kids start at Fannin Elementary, a kindergarten through fourth-grade school that received a C-plus grade from Niche. B-rated Sam Rayburn Intermediate School has fifth and sixth grades, while students complete their secondary education at B-minus-rated Stephen F. Austin Middle School and B-rated Bryan High School, where they can pursue an International Baccalaureate diploma. Bryan Collegiate High School, an A-rated institution, allows students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree simultaneously. Heritage Park sits in the center of the East Side Historical District. Walkers can stroll along the paths, enjoy the sculptures and relax at the pavilion. Those looking for more amenities can head a little less than a mile to Sue Haswell Park, which has basketball and tennis courts, horseshoe pits and a playground. Just southeast of downtown Bryan, the East Side Historical District is within walking distance of the city’s epicenter. Residents and locals appreciate the neighborhood’s proximity to downtown events. “When I sold this house on 33rd Street, I would call them or text them like, ‘Hey, I’m going to go to First Friday, may I park my vehicle at your house and just walk over to downtown?’” Clark says. It also offers easy access to major local employers, with the CHI St. Joseph Health Hospital just 1.5 miles away and Texas A&M University 5 miles away in College Station. The Brazos Transit District provides intermittent bus service throughout Bryan-College Station, running up and down Texas Avenue.

Escondido means “hidden” in Spanish, but the Escondido neighborhood of Bryan is quite the opposite of hard to find. “As far as what brings people to the neighborhood, it’s central to Bryan,” says Realtor Colin Clark with Keller Williams Realty Brazos Valley, who has lived in the area since 2012. “There’s so much going on in that area, with the businesses downtown.” Walking distance to the attractions of downtown Bryan — and just a short drive to Texas A&M — Escondido offers both access to the city lifestyle and a residential feel. Along Escondido’s western edge is Texas Avenue, lined by restaurants, shops and other businesses. Live music and cold beer are on the menu at The 101, set inside a former gas station. A couple of blocks away, La Familia is a favorite for tacos. And all the restaurants and bars along Main Street downtown are just a walk away, including the local favorite, Longhorn Tavern Steakhouse. The convenience store Prince Food Mart is located on Texas Avenue, while the nearest H-E-B is 1.5 miles away. With downtown Bryan just across Texas Avenue, Escondido residents have easy access to the city's happenings. One of the city’s biggest events is the monthly First Friday festival, with family-friendly entertainment, live music and local artists taking over the historic downtown streets. “All of the businesses in downtown Bryan offer discounts or free services,” Clark says of First Friday. “The cops close off certain parts of the downtown area where people can walk around and try food. It’s kind of a big deal in the Bryan area.” Like much of the east side of downtown Bryan, the gridded streets of Escondido are shaded by large trees. The neighborhood’s homes, many of which were built between the 1930s and 1950s, often have fenced-in backyards. Small ranches or cottages with two or three bedrooms start near $100,000 and go to nearly $300,000, while more recently built or remodeled homes can be priced higher. Many of the homes in the area are sold as investment properties, either for long-term rental by students at the nearby colleges or for short-term rental for football weekends at nearby Texas A&M. Next to Escondido is one of the city’s oldest parks, Sue Haswell Park, which was founded in 1925. Kids can scamper around the playground while their parents go on a stroll along the Path of Presidents, with bronze markers displaying quotes and likenesses of former U.S. heads of state. Locals can enjoy some friendly competition at the horseshoe pits, tennis courts or basketball hoops. Located in the Bryan Independent School District, Escondido is zoned to Fannin Elementary School for kindergarten through fourth grade, graded a C-plus by Niche. Kids attend B-rated Sam Rayburn Intermediate School for fifth and sixth grades, followed by B-minus-graded Davila Middle School for seventh and eighth. At Rudder High School, with a grade of C-plus, high-achieving students can pursue the Advanced Placement Capstone program. Students can also apply to A-graded Bryan Collegiate High School, which allows students to receive a two-year college degree alongside their high school diploma. Blinn College offers associate degrees with a campus in Bryan, while Texas A&M, the second-largest four-year college by enrollment in the country, is in Bryan’s twin city, College Station. While downtown Bryan is within walking distance, most residents of Escondido own cars to get around the greater Bryan-College Station area. The Brazos Transit District operates a bus system, with service along William Joel Bryan Parkway on the north edge of the neighborhood. Major employers in the area include the CHI St. Joseph Health Hospital, just 1.5 miles from the neighborhood, and Texas A&M University, less than 5 miles away in College Station.

With plenty of new businesses and restaurants, the downtown area of Bryan, Texas is a hot area in a town generally known as more family-friendly than its twin city, College Station. For those families that want to be near the center but far enough away to have some space and quiet, the Upper Burton Creek neighborhood sits just south of downtown. “Probably the biggest draw of the neighborhood is that it’s relatively close to downtown Bryan,” says Anthony Gutierrez, Realtor with Keller Williams Realty Brazos Valley who has worked in the area for seven years. “There’s a lot of rejuvenation that has gone on down there.” With a variety of homes, nearby employers and convenient transportation, residents have a sweet spot in Upper Burton Creek. Along wide streets flanked by sidewalks and mature trees, Upper Burton Creek’s single-family homes often have large front and backyards. The majority of houses are single-story brick builds which generally cost between $150,000 and $500,000. The area’s few townhouses are part of the Brook Hollow development and can go between $300,000 and $500,000. Meanwhile, a select number of bespoke farmhouse-style homes in the neighborhood cost up to $1.5 million. Just across E Villa Maria Road, shoppers can frequent the Tejas Center strip mall, with stores such as Marshalls or Joann Fabric. The shopping center also has an H-E-B, where residents can get their groceries and other essentials. Chain restaurants like Whataburger and Jack in the Box line Texas Avenue near the Tejas Center, but the neighborhood has access to local gems like Lamar and Niki’s Pit Barbecue and Soul Food, which Yelp recently noted as one of the top 100 places to eat in Texas. The shopping and dining of downtown Bryan is also just a short drive away. Students in Upper Burton Creek attend the Bryan Independent School District. They start at either Henderson Elementary or Ross Elementary, respectively rated B and C-plus by Niche. Kids then go to Jane Long Intermediate for fifth and sixth grade and Stephen F. Austin Middle for seventh and eighth, each given a B-minus grade, before finishing at Bryan High. The B-rated school offers the International Baccalaureate program, while students at risk of dropping out of school can apply to attend A-rated Bryan Collegiate to earn their associate degree along with their high school diploma. Upper Burton Creek is located along Texas Avenue, one of the area’s main drags. Residents can drive the 1.5 miles north to the restaurants and businesses of downtown Bryan, or 2 miles southeast to College Station and Texas A&M, one of the area’s largest employers. The Brazos Transit District serves the neighborhood, with access across the entire Bryan-College Station area. Meanwhile, the CHI St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital is just outside the neighborhood, another major employer. Downtown Bryan is a draw to many in the area, especially for the monthly First Fridays event. Vendors and food trucks line the streets of the city blocks, with families listening to the festival’s live music. “First Fridays is a big thing,” Gutierrez says. “There are also some farmers markets on the weekend that draw quite a bit of attention.” In the heart of Upper Burton Creek, Bunton Park sits right next to Henderson Elementary and features a playground along with plenty of green space for kids to run around in. Meanwhile, Sul Ross Park runs alongside Burton Creek across the street from the neighborhood and has a playground and picnic tables. Nearby, golfers can take to the public City Course at the Phillips Event Center to hit the driving range or play a round.